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While Democrats and Republicans agree that funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) should be extended for five years, the House Republicans recently released a partisan proposal that would rely on harmful policy changes to finance CHIP and community health centers.

A month past the deadline to renew expiring CHIP funding, Congress still has not come together to advance a bipartisan bill that continues more than 9 million children's health coverage. For October, states and the federal government patched together enough funding to keep the program afloat. Beginning in November, however, a growing number of states will start sending families notices that their children are losing or being denied CHIP, despite qualifying for coverage.

The Affordable Care Act marketplace is open! During Open Enrollment, occurring from November 1 to December 15, 2017, consumers can enroll in health coverage for 2018. No one can be denied coverage due to a pre-existing condition and all health insurance plans include free preventive services and cover a set of essential health benefits.

Enrollment assistance is available to anyone looking to enroll through the marketplace. Since last year there have been changes to plan options and pricing, so it is important to shop around for a plan that is the right fit. However, no changes have been made to the financial assistance that is available to help people afford coverage and care, and most people who shop on the marketplace qualify for financial help.

A bipartisan bill that seeks to stabilize health insurance markets got some welcome news from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) this week.

Sponsored by Senators Alexander (R-TN), Murray (D-WA), and 22 other Senators evenly divided between parties, the legislation would guarantee promised federal payments to insurers of cost-sharing reductions (CSRs) furnished to low-wage, working families. It would also fund outreach and enrollment efforts while making other changes to current law. On October 25, CBO found that such changes would save the federal government $3.8 billion over 10 years.

Last week, Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander and Democrat Sen. Patty Murray introduced new legislation that represents a constructive, bipartisan step toward strengthening health care. With 24 cosponsors so far, the bill is a bipartisan package of so-called “stabilization" measures to support the individual and small group health insurance marketplaces.

A critical test of the popularity of the Affordable Care Act will take place in less than three weeks. On Nov. 7, voters in Maine will cast a vote on Question 2, a ballot initiative to expand Medicaid.

The election will determine whether efforts to expand access to health care that have been stymied by the state’s governor can be won at the ballot box.